ETSU Buccaneers edge Tech, 6-5, with ninth inning rally

Mar 16, 2011

Photo: Freshman Jake McWhirter pitched six strong
innings Wednesday in his first career start

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The East Tennessee State Buccaneers rallied
for five runs in the top of the ninth, including a two-out,
three-run home run by Dylan Pratt that proved to be the
game-winner, to claim a 6-5, come-from-behind victory over
Tennessee Tech in Bush Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

It was the third consecutive comeback win for ETSU (11-2), which
snapped a 10-game losing streak in Cookeville that dated back to
1996. The loss for the Golden Eagles (7-10) ended a three-game
winning streak.

Tech will host Purdue in a three-game series this weekend,
beginning Friday at 3 p.m. with the first contest. The Golden
Eagles and Boilermakers meet Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1
o'clock.

The Bucs' comeback spoiled a brilliant effort by Golden Eagle
freshman Jake McWhirter in his first career start. The rookie
pitched the first six innings allowing just one run on three hits,
yielding way to the bullpen with a 3-1 lead to start the
seventh.

Cullen Park pitched well through the seventh and eighth innings,
and Tech took a 5-1 lead into the final frame.

ETSU hitter Andrew Green beat out an infield roller to open the
ninth and Kerry Doane's drive to center field was off the glove of
Chad Oberacker at the fence, putting runners at second and third.
Park struck out pinch-hitter Michael Gonzalez and got another
strikeout, fanning Matthew Scruggs for the second out.

Bo Reeder beat out a grounder toward short, driving home a run to
make it 5-2, and Paul Hoilman singled to center, scoring another
run to make it 5-3.

Junior Matthew Shepherd replaced Park on the hill, and Pratt drove
an 0-1 pitch over the fence in right center to cap the rally and
push the Bucs ahead, 6-5.

Reeder struck out the bottom of the Tech lineup in the ninth to
earn his eighth save of the season. Shepherd (1-3) was charged with
the loss while Dak Rissman (1-0) claimed his first win of the
season after pitching to two batters in the Golden Eagle half of
the eighth.

McWhirter mowed down ETSU through four scoreless innings before
Reeder drove a two-out home run to left for a 1-0 lead in the top
of the fifth.

Tech came back with three in the bottom of the fifth off ETSU
starter Ben Booker, all coming with two outs. Evan Frazier singled
up the middle and Austin Wulf singled to right, setting the stage
for Zephan Guyear to drive a two-run triple into the corner in
right field.

The Golden Eagles added two more runs in the eighth to make it
5-1, also coming with a two-run triple. This time, Wulf singled and
moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk to
Chad Oberacker, freshman Zack Stephens ripped a shot off the center
field fence that bounced away from the outfielder and wound up as a
triple.

Wulf led the way at the plate, getting three of Tech's nine hits
in the contest.